Death Valley, the lowest, driest place in North America and the hottest spot in the world. Photograph: Alamy

Name: Death Valley.

Age: It has been two or three million years, give or take, since geological forces pulled open this rift through eastern California.

Appearance: A desert basin surrounded by mountains.

Does it have any claims to fame? It is the lowest place in North America, and also the driest.

It stands to reason that people would get a bit down in an area where alcohol is so hard to come by. No, it is literally the lowest – 86 metres below sea level at Badwater Basin – and the driest, with only 60mm of rain falling annually.

Sounds lovely. Does it have anything else to recommend it? Death Valley is really hot right now.

You mean people are moving there in droves in order to open coffee shops, social media startups and art galleries? No, I mean they are currently experiencing daytime air temperatures that could break the record for the highest ever measured on Earth.

So it might be the hottest spot on the planet? Officially, it already is, since the previous record was set in Death Valley: 57C (134F) on 10 July 1913.

It sounds as if there is nothing to do in Furnace Creek but lay down and die. Actually, there is a golf course, but it was closed because of the heat.

So did the temperature break the record, or didn't it? The National Weather Service's thermometer hit 53.3C (128F), but the National Park Service's touched 54.3C (129.9). Official readings won't be available until later on Monday.

But either way, it's a no. Either way, it's the warmest June day recorded anywhere.